Man plotting murder accidentally dials victim, relays plan

The suspect unknowingly dialed the intended victim and spoke for over an hour about the murder plot

By Patricia Davis
Kait8.com

Larry Barnett (Photo courtesy Craighead Co. Sheriff's Office)

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro man has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder after police say the intended victim overheard the suspect planning the crime.

Jonesboro police arrested Larry Barnett, 68, on Thursday after being contacted by a Paragould man. The man told Detective Jason Simpkins he received a phone call at 12:30 p.m. from Barnett. He said it appeared Barnett had “unknowingly made” the phone call.

The intended victim said he overheard Barnett give another man directions to his home in Paragould. During the call, which lasted approximately 1.5 hours and was ongoing when he contacted police, the victim said he overheard Barnett say, “I don’t care if you have to burn his house to the ground with him in it. I don’t care what you have to do, make it look like an accident.”